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Will the ASX 200 break its 13-week trading range?

Will the ASX 200 break its 13-week trading range?

After a huge week of Australian corporate reporting, investors are still concerned about an increasingly unpredictable Trump Administration. This dilemma begs the question: will the ASX break the 5800 to 5675 range? (This video was produced in commercial partnership between Fairfax Media and IG Markets.)

Historic day ... for Julia Gillard, who lost popularity after vowing before the election there would be no carbon tax under her government. Photo: Andrew Meares

"We will do this by putting a price on pollution, fostering renewable energy technologies, encouraging energy efficiency and creating opportunities to reduce pollution on the land."

Ms Gillard later said the vote had "made history" and had come after a quarter of a century of scientific warnings about the impacts of climate change.

"Today our nation has got this done," she told reporters in Canberra.

"It has taken the most effective step it can to cut carbon pollution."

Today's vote is a win for Australia's children. It's a win for those who will seek their fortunes and make their way by having jobs in our clean energy sector. It's a win for those who want our environment to be a cleaner environment and to see less carbon pollution

The hard work would now begin, she said.

"Today's vote is a win for Australia's children," she said.

"It's a win for those who will seek their fortunes and make their way by having jobs in our clean energy sector.

"It's a win for those who want our environment to be a cleaner environment and to see less carbon pollution."

Mr Swan said his cabinet colleagues deserved praise.

"It is one of those reforms that owes a great deal to the tenacity and commitment of the Prime Minister and the Minister for Climate Change," he said.

The Treasurer said the duo had fought many groups and individuals who were opposed to the tax.

He compared the introduction of the tax to the beginning of superannuation and the bringing down of the trade tariff wall.

Mr Swan took aim at Opposition Leader Tony Abbott who headed off to Briatin yesterday evening for a pre-arranged meeting of conservative politicians.

"After all the tough guy talk, what a spineless retreat," he said.

The Senate vote was "a victory for the optimists and a defeat for the naysayers".

Mr Combet said the issue had been difficult for the government.

"This has obviously been a very difficult issue to prosecute and yet it is such an extremely important environmental and economic reform," he told reporters.

It was a very important thing for future generations.

Mr Combet said the measures would be economically responsible because they would drive investment in clean energy as well as driving innovation and productivity.